The Department of Water Resources (DWR) has released a Draft Strategic Plan (Plan) for its Sustainable Groundwater Program. The draft Plan describes the DWR’s responsibilities and vision for carrying out the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), and outlines key actions the DWR will undertake over the next several years to position itself to better support local agencies across California to achieve sustainable groundwater management.
The SGMA directs the DWR to complete multiple activities, including the adoption of regulations for local agency proposed revisions to groundwater basin boundaries, the adoption of regulations for evaluating and implementing local agency prepared groundwater sustainability plans, updating the prioritization of basins, and conducting groundwater assessments into the next decade.
DWR's Groundwater Sustainability Program Draft Strategic Plan:
- Describes current groundwater conditions in California;
- Outlines the requirements of the new laws including a timeline;
- Describes related actions under the California Water Action Plan, the Governor's five-year strategy for more resilient and reliable water resources;
- Lists key intended outcomes and benefits of implementation of SGMA;
- Identifies DWR's goals, objectives, and corresponding actions; and,
- Describes potential challenges and factors that will be key to success, including public outreach and communication.
The DWR will consider all comments before finalizing the plan. Detailed information on the SGMA and its implementation and instructions for sending comments and suggestions on the Plan can be accessed here.